Seesul´s lingual corner

[seesul]

Many thanks Eric!

 

[seesul]

This Iowa countryside is some beautiful land for farming. The land is real black and these farmers have a corn patch for every cotton patch that we have back home. They have the nicest homes and more big barns and outhouses than Carter has liver pills.

Which Carter does the author mean?

 

[evangilder]

In the late 1800s, up until about the 1960s, there was a drug (medicine) called "Carters Little Liver Pills". It was used to treat headaches and general pains, like aspirin. Because it was so heavily advertised and well known, it was assumed that they had a lot of them.

So that phrase was meant as a way of comparing the number of items with Carters Liver Pills, meaning there were a lot of what they compare it with. It is a more creative way of saying that there were a lot of barns and outhouses in Iowa.

 

[FalkeEins]

Just wanted to ask if pepper-upper is common slang expression.
I know the author so I´ll ask him by e-mail.
thx again

..the verb is 'to pep up' - ..there is no noun so we make one up, ie 'pepper-upper', ie something that peps you up... its not a word I've ever used

 

[seesul]

In the late 1800s, up until about the 1960s, there was a drug (medicine) called "Carters Little Liver Pills". It was used to treat headaches and general pains, like aspirin. Because it was so heavily advertised and well known, it was assumed that they had a lot of them.

So that phrase was meant as a way of comparing the number of items with Carters Liver Pills, meaning there were a lot of what they compare it with. It is a more creative way of saying that there were a lot of barns and outhouses in Iowa.

Many thanks Eric for your perfect explanation! I just finished the translation of the article and am going to send it to the publisher...
Thx again for the help of all of you.

I just decided to make a Cambridge First Certificate in English. It´s a 2 years long course that is finished by the examination. The examination is accepted in whole European Union. I think it would be a shame not to use this chance because I love English but never learned it at school.
So it´s gonna be hard course but I just feel I need it...
Cambridge ESOL: First Certificate in English (FCE)

 

[seesul]

..the verb is 'to pep up' - ..there is no noun so we make one up, ie 'pepper-upper', ie something that peps you up... its not a word I've ever used

...aha, thx Neil!
Btw, how is Jean-Yves doing? Haven´t heard from him since 2 years ago I guess...say him hello from me please.

 

[Wurger]

Really interesting thread Roman.I keep my eye on it.Keep asking....

 

[seesul]

O.K. Something else now.
The phrase 'Tally Ho' meant:
'I´m atacking' or 'an enemy sighted'? On the net I found at most 'an enemy sighted' or 'an enemy in sight'

 

[seesul]

'dead stick langing' means:
- emergency or crash landing in general or
- emergency or crash landing due to an engine failure (with a 'dead engine) ?

 

[imalko]

Since I'm not native English speaker sometimes I have difficulty with understanding some abbreviations which I encounter from time to time on the forum.

Correct me if I'm wrong:
IMO = in my opinion
lol = lots of laughs
LMAO = ?

I would like to know what LMAO means.
Thanks.

 

[evangilder]

LOL=Laughing out loud
LMAO=Laughing my a$$ off.
ROFL=Rolling on the floor laughing

Tally Ho is what is stated when another aircraft is sighted. I have seen it used when forming up into a formation too. Two aircraft go out, then another two in pair that form up on the first pair. As the second element spots the lead element, they will often say 'Tally Ho'.

Tally Ho is attributed to an old English phrase used in fox hunting and the term was used when a fox was spotted.

Dead stick landing refers to an airplane landing without engine power.

 

[imalko]

Thanks for explanation Eric. There are also many abbreviations with TO in it. For example PTO etc?

 

[evangilder]

In this case, it means Theater of Operations, so
PTO Pacific Theater of Operations
MTO Mediterranean Theater of Operations
ETO European Theater of Operations
and so on.

There are a ton of other things TO can mean, depending on the context of the conversation.

 

[seesul]

I thank you too Eric!

 

[seesul]

What does the word 'acting' mean in this sentence:
"I was acting Group Operations Officer."
Substitute?

Thx!

 

[Messy1]

I believe so Seesul. Temporary, unofficial,

Acting, adj.Temporarily assuming the duties or authority of another

 

[seesul]

I thought so...many thx!

 

[seesul]

...come undone...
What does this connection mean?

Perhaps 'when you come undone' - is it something like 'when you´re destroying me' ?

 

[GrauGeist]

Can mean like a "nervous breakdown" or in some cases "to lose self control".

An example: "Joe just finished the 5 year restoration on his 1957 Chevy. The neighbor backed into it and Joe came undone!"

 

[seesul]

Thanks Dave!

Here´a small example- Duran Duran- Come undone
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiHk3PVmfVY

Nine immaculate dream made breath and skin
I've been waiting for you
Signed with a home tattoo
happy birthday to you
Was created for you

Can't ever keep from falling apart
At the seams
Can I believe you're taking my heart
To pieces
Oh It'll take a little time
Might take a little crime
To come undone now
We'll try to stay blind
to the hope and fear outside
Hey child stay wilder
than the wind and blow me in to cry

Who do you need?
Who do you love?
When you come undone

Meaning?